Sedation Dentistry in Tulsa
If you have dental anxiety, it is likely preventing you from receiving regular checkups, addressing any current dental problems and maintaining your oral health. Many studies have been published indicating the relationship between your oral health and your overall general health.
Too many Americans go without receiving regular dental care because of their dental anxiety. This is a perfect recipe for letting minor dental issues develop into major problems that are much more costly to repair. That’s why Tulsa Premier Dentistry offers a variety of sedation options and why it’s a very practical and safe consideration for dental patients.
Even for those interested in cosmetic dentistry, sedation can often be a means to achieve the smile of your dreams in a single extended visit that would otherwise require two or more visits to complete.
How new is sedation dentistry?
You may not have heard much about sedation dentistry until the past few decades, but it’s been around for a long, long time. One of the sedation techniques that is still used today dates back to the 1840s. This is when a Connecticut dentist by the name of Horace Wells first experimented and introduced the use of nitrous oxide otherwise known as “Laughing Gas.” It was soon after that it was used as a form of general anesthesia.
Since then, much progression has been made in the field of dentistry, pain management and safe administration of dental sedation. Sedation dentistry is not a substitute for local anesthesia or numbing agents. Some patients assume that their dentist will only use one or the other. The decision to use sedation and local anesthesia are both pharmacological methods used to ensure patient comfort.
In addition, dentistry has a much better understanding of how both anxiety and pain are closely interconnected. Dr. Ryan Coursey, at Tulsa Premier Dentistry, is highly trained in the use of dental sedation and pharmacological approaches that can be used to provide pain- and anxiety-free dentistry.
What different types of sedation dentistry is available?
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) – Breathing nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen will allow for a euphoric state of mind to help relax your nerves during dental treatment. This process is safe and effective. Most patients describe their arms and legs as feeling heavy and tingly. You are still able to communicate with the dental staff while inhaling nitrous oxide and it typically wears off rather quickly after the mask is removed.
Oral Sedation – At Tulsa Premier Dentistry, your comfort is important to us. By opting to take an oral sedative in pill form you are able to get to a very deep, relaxing state without the need for needles to get there. Patients are still conscious during oral sedation and are able to communicate with the dentist and staff. The pill is taken about an hour prior to treatment to allow enough time to reach its intended effectiveness. It is important to note that patients requesting oral sedation for their procedures must have a designated driver to and from their dental appointment.
General or IV sedation – Involves administering the medication intravenously. This type of sedation enables the Board Certified Anesthesiologist to provide the sedation more quickly, and we can also easily control the level of sedation to ensure that you stay comfortable. IV sedation can provide a stronger sedation meaning you will be completely asleep during your dental visit. It is important to note that like oral sedation, patients requesting IV sedation for their procedures must have a designated driver to and from their dental appointment.
What kind of sedation is going to be right for me?
This is an excellent question and has many variables associated with it such as the level of anxiety and the type of procedures being performed. For those who have moderate or severe dental anxiety, sedation dentistry techniques can be used in conjunction with local anesthetics to create an extremely calm and relaxed pain-free state.
If you have dental anxiety that is related to a previous painful or bad experience then know you are not alone! Dr. Coursey has many patients that have anxiety or have had bad experiences in the past. He and his caring staff are able to completely change their dental experience by providing a comfortable and pain-free dental environment. Contact us by calling our office at 918-364-8180 to schedule your complimentary appointment with Dr. Coursey at Tulsa Premier Dentistry to determine which type of sedation dentistry will be the best choice for you!
As seen on https://tulsapremierdentistry.com/
